Immigration update: Kenya | Individual and Company Tax Compliance Certificates required for Work Permit Renewals
Individual and Company Tax Compliance Certificates required for Work Permit Renewals
The Department of Immigration Services in Kenya advised that, effective 1 July 2019, all Work Permit Renewal applications must be accompanied by Individual and Company Tax Compliance Certificates.
Who will be affected?
This will affect all foreign employees residing in Kenya under the auspices of a Work Permit intending to apply for a renewal.
Background
In compliance with the Kenya Revenue Authority Regulations, the Government of Kenya has released a notice through the Department of Immigration Services indicating that from 1 July 2019, all applications for the renewal of Work Permits should be accompanied by Individual and Company Tax Compliance Certificates. This will be subject to certain exemptions.
This is aimed at increasing tax compliance by making it ever more difficult to circumvent Kenyan Tax Regulations.
Individual and Company Tax Compliance Certificates have traditionally only been requested when renewing Class A, B and G Permits and have not yet been included in the official check-lists for other categories of permit renewals.
Impact
Although an official directive is yet to be issued by the Department of Immigration Services, we have already experienced instances where Individual and Company Tax Compliance Certificates were requested for the renewal of a Class D Work Permit. We have started advising our clients to include these documents when applying for a renewal of any Work Permit to limit the possibility of delays during the submission or adjudication process.
How Santa Fe can assist?
Santa Fe can support businesses who wish to employ foreign nationals in Kenya by assessing their eligibility to qualify for the required Work Permits or renewals to ensure compliance with the immigration rules. We can also review current employees’ work authorizations and if it is found that the correct work permit is not in place we can assist with corrective measures to ensure compliance.
We can also keep your business updated on further developments in Kenyan immigration matters and will advise on any changes requiring your attention.
Should you have any questions, please contact:
Terence Rover
Immigration Manager – Africa
Santa Fe Relocation
Johannesburg, South Africa
D: +27 (0) 10 442 8933
M: +27 (0) 72 279 9606
E: Terence.Rover@staging.santaferelo.com
Paolo Longo
Regional Immigration Manager – Africa
Santa Fe Relocation
Johannesburg, South Africa
D: +27 (0) 10 595 2337
M: +27 (0) 83 677 7949
E: Paolo.longo@staging.santaferelo.com
Soumeya Messadi
Head of Immigration – Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa
Santa Fe Relocation
Singapore
D: +65 6398 3520
M: +65 9169 6061
E-mail: Soumeya.messadi@staging.santaferelo.com
To read more immigration updates, click here.
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Santa Fe Relocation Services is a global mobility company specialising in managing and delivering high-quality relocation services worldwide. Our core competence is providing services that help corporations and their employees relocate and settle in a new country, assisting them with immigration, home and school searches, language and cultural training, property rentals, and domestic and international household goods shipments. We provide these services to a consistently high standard, locally and globally. A key strength is our ability to manage these services through our own operations around the world. Santa Fe Relocation Services is wholly owned by the Santa Fe Group, which is listed on NASDAQ in Copenhagen, Denmark. For more information, visit us at blue.santaferelo.com
